Learning how to express emotions in British Sign Language (BSL) is essential for effective communication. In this guide, we will explore various ways to say “confused” in BSL. Whether you want to express formality or informality, we’ve got you covered. We will also provide helpful tips and examples to enhance your understanding. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal ways to say “confused” in BSL:
- Confused: Make a confused facial expression, slightly furrowing your eyebrows while tilting your head to the side. Simultaneously, bring your non-dominant hand up to your forehead, with your palm facing inward, and tap gently with your index finger pointing forward.
- Bewildered: Hold one hand open, palm facing upward, in front of your chest. Use your other hand to make a circling motion above the open hand, while keeping a puzzled expression on your face.
- Perplexed: Place both hands open in front of you, palms facing downward. Move your hands in small circles, side by side, while keeping a thoughtful expression on your face.
Informal ways to say “confused” in BSL:
Informal signs in BSL may vary depending on the region or individual preferences. Below, we’ve listed some commonly used informal signs to express confusion:
- Confused (Informal): Bring both hands up in front of your chest, palms facing each other, and shake them from side to side rapidly while widening your eyes.
- Lost: Extend both arms in front of you, palms facing upward. Rotate your hands in a circular motion while maintaining a puzzled expression.
- Mind-blown: Make a grasping motion with both hands, as if grabbing your head, and slowly move your hands outward and away from your head with a surprised look on your face.
Examples:
Now let’s see some sentences and phrases where you can use these signs:
Example 1: I’m so confused about this new math concept.
BSL Sign: Use the formal sign for “confused” and then fingerspell M-A-T-H using the one-handed alphabet.
Example 2: Sorry, I didn’t catch what you just said. Could you please repeat that?
BSL Sign: Use the informal sign for “confused” followed by the signs for “didn’t” (shake your head), “catch” (make a catching motion with one hand), “what” (use the formal sign), “say” (point to your mouth repeating the confused sign), and finally, fingerspell the word “repeat”.
Remember, context is crucial when using signs, so make sure to practice and learn from fluent BSL users to master the appropriate facial expressions and body language.
Conclusion
Expressing confusion in British Sign Language (BSL) is an important part of effective communication. In this guide, we covered both formal and informal ways to say “confused” in BSL. We provided various signs along with examples to help you understand how to use them correctly. Remember to practice regularly and consult with fluent BSL users to improve your sign language skills. Now, you are ready to confidently express confusion in BSL!
